How the crisis of trust in experts occurs on social media in China? Multiple-case analysis based on data mining

This study investigates the crisis of trust in experts on Chinese social media, focusing on expert communication of scientific knowledge. Nine Weibo cases from November 2022 to January 2023 were analyzed using data mining techniques to understand public questioning of experts. The study finds that this crisis stems from the combined effect of experts, media, and the public, encompassing factors such as conflicting expert opinions, lack of rigorous evidence, blurred boundaries between experts and authority/capital, and the public's emotional responses and populist tendencies. The study offers insights into the mechanisms of public behavior and suggests improvements for science communication on social media.

Yating Wen, Xiaodong Zhao, Yuqi Zang, Xingguo Li